Stuff We Like: February 2025
February’s edition of Stuff We Like goes beyond gear — sure, we still cover some great kit for skiing, biking, and casual wear, but we also get into a collection of stories, music, and a short film.
Zack Henderson
Flash Review: Ibis Oso 1.1
Ibis made some meaningful tweaks to the Oso 1.1, and we’ve gotten some initial trail time on Ibis’ burly eMTB. Check out our initial thoughts.
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Ibis Oso 1.1
Refinement, not reinvention, is the story of the Ibis Oso 1.1. Though the general design is unchanged, Ibis has learned from the first Oso and found small tweaks to improve the ride and durability — all while nearly halving the price from the original. Check out what they’ve done in our First Look.
Pivot Trailcat
The Pivot Trail 429 and Trail 429 Enduro are no longer — but the new Trailcat SL and Trailcat LT aim to be worthy replacements. The new bikes share a frame but are aimed at different corners of the Trail bike market. Curious what Pivot cooked up? Check out our First Look.
High Above Supernatural Vest Pack
High Above has made a name for itself over the years for high-quality, US-made hip packs and accessories. With vest packs seemingly growing in popularity, High Above has thrown their hat into the ring with the new Supernatural. Check out our First Look for more about High Above’s take on a bike-focused vest pack.
OneUp Components Clip Pedals
OneUp has officially entered the clipless pedal game. The new Clip Pedals are based around an SPD cleat, but OneUp has developed their own custom mechanism — and has some interesting claims about how it differs from other SPD pedals. Check out our First Look for the rundown.
Commencal T.E.M.P.O. Power
The new T.E.M.P.O. Power is Commencal’s latest eMTB, adding Bosch’s lightweight Performance Line SX motor to their shortest-travel Trail bike, with an emphasis on versatility and playfulness. Check out our First Look to see how Commencal has approached its goal of creating a lively lightweight eMTB.
Deep Dive: Marin Alpine Trail XR
We compare the Marin Alpine Trail to the original Alpine Trail, Yeti SB165, Santa Cruz Nomad, Propain Tyee, Privateer 161 V2, RAAW Madonna V3, Chromag Lowdown, Orbea Rallon, Yeti SB160, Ibis HD6, Kavenz VHP 16, and Banshee Titan.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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Marin Alpine Trail XR
The refreshed Marin Alpine Trail XR still brings excellent value but feels like a much more modern and well-rounded take on a modern Enduro bike than the old one. Our Full Review explains why it’s a standout.
Cane Creek Tigon
Air and coil shocks both have their merits, but what about a hybrid of the two? Cane Creek took a creative new direction with their Tigon shock. But has it worked? Check out our Full Review to find out.
OneUp Components Hubs
OneUp made a name for themselves with no-nonsense parts at good prices, and their hubs focus on durability and ease of service. They happen to be very lightweight too — but how do they perform? Our Full Review shares our experience.
2025 Mondraker Arid Carbon
Mondraker has dropped their first non-motorized Gravel bike — the Arid Carbon. With a clean aesthetic and a feature set designed to please both racers and more casual adventurers, the Arid prioritizes versatility. Let’s see what Mondraker has cooked up.
2025 Transition Youth Bikes
Kids’ bikes have gotten awfully nice in recent years, and Transition is unveiling a full new lineup of sweet rides for young rippers. Check out the new Bandit, Ripcord, and Scout in our First Look.
Deep Dive: Knolly Fugitive 140
We compare the Knolly Fugitive 140 to the Santa Cruz Hightower 3, Trek Fuel EX, Revel Rascal V2, Santa Cruz Bronson, REEB Steezl, Rocky Mountain Instinct, Transition Smuggler, Norco Optic, Deviate Highlander II, Forbidden Druid V2, Norco Sight, Yeti SB140, Banshee Phantom V3, and Propain Hugene.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
(If you're already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)
Knolly Fugitive 140
We’ve had a couple of reviewers riding Knolly’s updated Fugitive 140, and it stands out from the mid-travel Trail bike market in a few interesting ways — not an easy task in that typically “jack of all trades, master of none” category. Here’s our Full Review.
Ohlins DH38 & RXF38 Coil Spring Kits
Öhlins is one of the few suspension brands offering a coil conversion kit for their forks, and it manages to incorporate some compelling features at a reasonable price point. Does it deliver that fabled coil-sprung magic, or is there more to the story? Our reviewers have some thoughts after a few months of testing.
Propain Rage 3 R CF
Propain has been on a roll with new bike releases this year, and now it’s their Downhill bike’s turn — enter the new Rage 3 R CF. Feedback from Propain’s race team has yielded small changes that focus on frame stiffness and a quieter ride. All of the details are in our First Look.
2025 Pivot Shuttle LT
The updated Pivot Shuttle LT is the latest eMTB with the new Bosch Performance Line CX motor, but it goes one step further with the Race Limited Edition version of the drive system. The new version gets some other updates, too — our First Look has the details.
2025 Rocky Mountain Element
The Rocky Mountain Element was an early example of a cross-country bike with more aggressive geometry, and the new Element makes some refinements without messing with that winning recipe. Read all about it in our First Look.
Manitou Mara Pro PB
Manitou’s rear shocks aren’t necessarily a common sight on the trails, but the updated Mara Pro PB makes a strong case for why that should change. Our Full Review chronicles our findings after a few months of heavy use.